USC’s 6-foot-10 freshman Nikola Vucevic, the Montenegran whose eligibility has been held up by the NCAA Clearinghouse over amateurism issues when he was 14 and played in two games for barely a minute for a pro team, has been cleared to play for the Trojans.

And he’s eligible immediately and could see action tonight against Pepperdine at Galen Center.

With the rejection of North Carolina transfer Alex Stepheson, USC Coach Tim Floyd has been pushing hard for Vucevic’s eligibility with the lack of inside depth after a season-ending injury to Kasey Cunningham.